RIYADH, 26 July — The selection committee of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry will choose in September CSCCI’s new secretary-general from a panel of three to succeed Osama Kurdi, who resigned recently.

The three names were short-listed from a total of 23 aspirants for the prestigious position, a source at the selection committee said. Two of them came from the government sector and the third from the private sector.

They are Dr. Fahd Al-Sultan, assistant undersecretary for planning at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Al-Saleh, secretary-general of the Council of Higher Education, and Dr. Tawfiq Al-Qasir, director general of a consultancy company.

At first there were 23 eminent personalities representing economic, administrative and academic fields in the fray for the powerful position. It was the first time in the council’s history that so many wanted to contest. The final selection will be made at a meeting in Ahsa in the Eastern Province on Sept. 19.